Fire ravaged Eastbrook Hall in Bradford is back on the market after plans to develop it for offices and a restaurant bit the dust.

The once magnificent landmark is now the city centre's biggest eyesore in spite of proposals to restore it to its former glory.

Today Alan McMahon, a director of Aldersgate Estates, which bought the Leeds Road building three years ago, said they wanted to sell it or work with someone as a venture partnership

Aldersgate is understood to have bought the building for about £500,000, but Mr McMahon would not comment on the asking price this time.

He said his firm had dropped its plans because it had heard nothing from Government regeneration agency Yorkshire Forward about help with funding.

"We would like to see it developed possibly for housing. But it has taken too long," he said.

The blow has come after the launch of nearby Little Germany as an urban village.

Millions of pounds of investment is already pouring into the former German wool merchants quarters, and Silens Works and Treadwell's mill are expected to be developed as apartments.

The Little Germany Urban Village Company - which is spearheading the regeneration - has already said it will do everything possible to help with the redevelopment of Eastbrook Hall.

Deputy council leader Councillor Richard Wightman said he was disappointed, and action was vital for the key building if Little Germany was to succeed.

Former Labour regeneration executive member Councillor Dave Green said: "I hope the Little Germany Urban Village Company will play a proactive part in getting Eastbrook Hall developed as a priority."

The famous hall, once dubbed the Methodists' northern cathedral, has been empty since 1986 and many schemes to renovate it have fallen through. It was built in 1904 with a 2,200 seating capacity and formed the centre of Methodist worship in the city. The blaze in 1996 brought the city to a stand still and destroyed the top floor and roof of the listed building.

A spokesman for Yorkshire Forward said it had been approached by the company, but no formal application for funds had been submitted.